I am perpetually disturbed by the rise of patriotic nationalism worldwide. Powered by the false logic of protecting “our own,” each successive wave crashes down with increasing vehemence on any convenient scapegoat that can be blamed. A popular rallying cry here in the U.S. urges citizens to support “veterans instead of migrants.” But this is a false dichotomy—there is no legislation in the U.S. requiring citizens to choose between these two factions. Nevertheless, leaders who argue against such “patriotism” are sucked under. And in their place, self-serving extremists rise on the tide of patriotic nationalism, spewing the seductive froth of Us vs. Them.
The last time the flood rose to this level, it 
erupted in a worldwide tsunami. Opportunistic ideologues like Hitler, Mussolini, Tojo, and Stalin “rescued” their nations, empowered by nationalistic fervor, and murdered millions before their neighbors finally banded together and beat back the tempest. Three lifetimes later, the world is still suffering from the devastations of that era.
Can we stanch the tide before new tyrants rise up on the flotsam of hate-fueled “patriotism,” and drag us into World War III, killing millions in the process? I pray we can. Because, guess what?
There is no them. There never was. There is only us.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies…so that you may truly be the children of your Father in heaven.”
~Matthew 5:44-45
You’re absolutely correct! I rally cry my love for America but in now way does that make America any better than another country or how they live. As you said, we are one world, and separate views are killing people. 🙂
Spot on, Mitch. It’s the same here in the UK. Same rhetoric, same false dichotomy, same argument, different situation… that protection and love, requires hateful, aggressive action to demonstrate it.
And in so many other countries as well, Malcolm.
Well said, Mitch.. I’m sickened by it all❣️🙏🏼
Amen.
I’m in the middle politically….and both sides have gone to an extreme…there seems to be no middle ground anymore.
I hear you, Max.
Eight years after you first posted this, and it’s still true. As Peter, Paul and Mary famously sang, 🎶”When will we ever learn?🎶 “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr. Ok, I’m preaching now.☺️
Keep preaching, David!
Thank you Mitch. What a timely article. I hope we get to a point where there is no “them”, only “us”. I like being an “us”.
Me too, Gregory.
Well said! 👌🏼
Thank you, Iman.
Your message powerfully highlights the dangers of rising patriotic nationalism. The false dichotomy of supporting veterans over migrants is a manipulative tactic that divides us. History shows the peril of unchecked divisive ideologies. Your call for unity and love, as echoed in Matthew 5:44-45, reminds us that our common humanity transcends “us” and “them.” By fostering empathy and understanding, we can prevent history from repeating its darkest chapters. Your message is a timely call to action for all.
Thanks, Willie.
You got it Brother, My Pleasure.
You nailed that solid.
Thank you, Roo.
Sadly, we haven’t been able to staunch the tide rising up anywhere. The world is in worse shape than ever and when we should be banding together, we’re ripping one another apart, eroding the rights of women, and minorities all over the world, fighting amongst ourselves, playing king of the castle. Thoughts and behaviors our grandparents deplored are back again, stronger than ever. I’m not sure there’s enough love left in the world to fix it. John 11:35 says it all. Jesus wept and he’s crying now.
Well said, Mitch!
Thank you, T.
My pleasure.
Great post! I sometimes think of the church as the only “us” that is FOR “them” rather than AGAINST “them” but maybe there really isn’t a “them”
I agree! We need to be following what Jesus taught. We are all the same under Jesus Christ. America should still be the country that fights for justice for all, not just a few. I am lamenting America’s unwillingness to do so.
This video plays at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.
Wow!
AMEN x’s 10!!
Often, the Us vs Them rhetoric that is passed around as “eye-opening” is actually a tool for distraction that closes eyes instead. It takes the center stage because it has emotional clout. Because of the way funds are allocated, immigrant needs and veteran needs never are in competition with each other. They are separate items in the budget. Money for one does not come from a big pool like your checking account. It comes from lots of different bags of money and earmarks that cannot be intermixed. That’s why threats to Social Security are ridiculous but so emotional that any perceived conflict is an attack on a group of helpless elders.
Who actually gains in this patriotic nationalism? Follow the money. Average ordinary citizens: immigrants (legal and illegal) Boomers and Gen Z and everyone in between, veterans, mentally ill, college-bound, trade-school bound, homeless, welfare recipients…NONE of them benefit from this attack. None of them is included in the US category. In one fell swoop, we are all part of the THEM that these blatherskites demean and threaten while in the same breath telling everyone that something threatens “our ___________ way of life” and fill in the blank with whatever group they’re addressing. So the biggest threat to us is THEM and the members of THEM are us. Circular logic.
Preach, sister.
Thanks for posting this, Mitch. As it happens, next Monday I am helping bootstrap a national network for Christ-lovers who are invested in addressing this challenge:
https://dropthestone.org
Please pray. And I may need to ask for your help…
I will pray, Dr. Ernie.
Thank you for your prayers — they worked! My devotional that morning was prophetically accurate for what God did to and through me:
https://2transform.us/2024/06/03/6-3-iam-thresh-holding-conqueror-10-of/
Excited to see what happens next…
Awesome, Ernie!
There really is a “them” , but it’s not migrants or veterans or old or young . It’s politicians and activists who keep the divide going and growing . And there are leaders of various movements who are “them”. “They” divide and destroy. Critical theory/wokism is a cult and so is Christian nationalism. We who reject both extremes have to stick together.
I’m always awestruck when I hear such language especially from Christians. Didn’t Jesus talk of loving your neighbor. I missed the part where he said you could exclude one group over another! I’m with you Mitch. Thanks for speaking up!
My privilege, Brian.
You just articulated what concerns me deeply about the world and politics at the moment Mitch.
Astute, cogent comments. Can’t agree more.
Too late. “They” have already won and will soon be telling us all what to eat, what to drive, where to live and how to stay “healthy” unless you’re one of those they don’t want around.😱
You and me both Mitch
Numerous factors seem to keep Us separated from Them. First and foremost would be the preponderance of lies that bury the truth. (Suppression of truth has also been a factor.) In addition, we’re divided by world view, perspective, and motives–for starters. The way I see it, a widespread spiritual renewal is our only hope for bringing us closer together, so we can be guided by biblical truth to rectify the divide.
Agreed, Nancy! 🙏 May we call upon God to forgive and restore our land.
verses 19-20, said 44-45, does matthew 5 has verses 47 & 22
I used to assume that democracies were in the majority across the world’s governments but it looks more like 50/50. And that is often reflected in elections where there are few landslide majorities any more but opposition parties just getting over the line to govern. Thankfully, in Australia we have seven state govs and all but one have flipped to Labor, the progressive party, as a backlash against years of conservative rule. The federal gov is also Labor and pushing forward with progressive policy. But in a two-party system there is always a back and forth, so there is no guarantee how long that will last. All we can do is act more compassionately locally and hope it will spread globally.
And of those democracies, only a small number have compulsory voting. “We” ie you and me in Australia, plus Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji Islands, Greece, Italy, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Nauru, Paraguay, Peru, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay.
Notwithstanding that Italy is drifting to the far right (probably from spillover pressure from its neighbours), how different the US outlook would be if every person was required to have their say. After all, the “demo” is the people, and the kratos(cracy) is power/rule. And it would help if they held their elections on a different day of the week, as we do (Saturday, in case anyone is interested).
It would not eliminate the blatant gerrymandering, but it would eliminate the attitude that some are worthy to have an opinion on how they want their government to operate, whereas others are not. Attitudes deeply rooted in their history, which I won’t attempt to have an opinion on.
It would be wonderful for us if Australia continued to be an unknown country at the bottom of the world map, but unfortunately what happens in America ultimately bleeds into our lives. And watching from afar, what is happening now is scary, very, very scary. Them and Us indeed.
Thank you for this great post Mitch.
Unfortunately in Europe there are shifts in almost every country towards the far right.
The far right has no real solutions for the people. It’s also very dangerous that most people are tired of politics and don’t vote. That plays into the hands of the far right.
In Italy where I live the far right government is infiltrating cultural institutions, taking over the biggest national broadcaster RAI, to propagate their own nationalistic ideology, which derives directly from fascism.
Italy never really condemned and processed fascism. Instead fascism lives on in the minds of many people. Every year there are big gatherings, even in Milan, where fascism friendly people carry out the Hitler salute and shout. Chilling. Look at your own history and learn. If you don’t, history will repeat itself all over again.
Chilling indeed, Chris. Thank you for your insight.
You’re welcome Mitch🙏
I know I say this a lot, but…can you repeat this louder to those in the back? Like you, I’m weary and tired of it. Actually, it angers me. I’ve watched documentary after documentary–why? Because I don’t want to be young and stupid, Mitch. We are repeating history with the spewing of hate and tyranism–in the name of patriotism? Why must we choose between two groups of HUMANS? Matthew recorded it right–without a doubt. That’s exactly what Jesus said–and he lived out his words. “There is no them. There never was. There is only us.” Amen, Mitch. Gosh, we all appreciate you!
Thank you, and amen, dear friend.
You’re welcome, Mitch!
I think followers of jesus means we truly are
Sorry ithink followers if Jeaus truly are pilgrims on the earth and strangers…
I see nothing wrong with “protecting our own” as you put it. Turn the other cheek does not fly here when all others around us are allowed to abuse “us” under the guise of their being downtrodden. I would NOT suggest immigrants/veterans a dichotomy; I would suggest if a person is to be fervently pro one to the exclusion of the other, and, I declare the matter of LAW does NOT enter into the argument in any way as you imply, “we” would do well to serve first and best the vets who have served us, not a class that often includes by definition many who will not obey the LAWS of this country as they are written. Finally, I find the ones spreading the “seductive froth of patriotic nationalism” are NOT those who are pro-vet [which does NOT automatically include anti-immigrant sentiment] but the liberal league bent on giving away the privileges many work for and some have died to achieve and protect by implying national patriotism is evil as are those who believe it it. It is not and those who believe are not.
This is so true. There is only us. How the future would change if humans lived that truth. We have the capacity for such deep love which grows us all, but the instincts to respond to fear with hate which makes us all miserable.
as soon as we label people we divide. In social services we say a person with a disability, or a person who has physical limitations, to try and put the person first. It’s just language, sure, but it’s a gentler feeling, and maybe that feeling can help us listen to each other. Everything doesn’t have to be a competition.
So very true, Martha.
You are right. I am upset to have members of my own family who feel this hatred.
Possibly being devil’s advocate here … Doesn’t this make the “patriots” the “them”?
I would respectfully disagree with your statement that there’s only “us.” Sooner or later (and I hope it’s not in my lifetime), the world will be divided into good and evil – God’s people and the followers of the Antichrist. Right now we need to be praying for all people, that those who follow evil (either on purpose out of rebellion or being deceived) would repent and come to Christ. And we need to pray for ourselves for the wisdom, discernment, and strength to be faithful to Him and not get sucked up into the political chaos.
Amen! And Amen,
Mitch!
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